Howdy friends!
I currently have a nearly 10 year old female whiteface lutino hen named Nirah. She has been an absolute joy and I adore her to bits. Incredibly tame, cuddly, knows a couple of tricks and overall just has been a wonderful companion these past years. I'm very happy with how things are, and she seems to be happy as well.
But every once in a while, the idea of getting a second cockatiel pops into my mind. I didn't have the capacity to do so in the last years, but as I moved into my own apartment last month, I finally have the space to add a second cockatiel if I wished to do so. I've been looking around and found an absolutely gorgeous cockatiel that I fell in love with and now I'm really thinking about picking it up.
My primary reasons for wanting a second cockatiel are pretty simple. I'd love to have another baby to love on and keep me company, and I started full-time work again 2 years ago, so my tiel is more alone than she used to be and I'd like her to have company as well.
However, there's where my doubts start to creep in.
What if I will be overwhelmed caring for two birds? Especially during the quarantine period, when they are both still in separate cages / different rooms. I don't want either bird to feel like it's not getting enough attention. Once quarantine is over the new bird would move into my room and remain in a completely separate cage for a few more weeks, but once the 'warming up' period is over, it would eventually be transferred into its side of a Madeira Double (the cage has a removable divider which is super useful) Until then I am anxious that it will be difficult for me to keep up with both needs for the birds adequately.
What if my new bird hates the new bird / becomes stressed? Or worse, less tame and doesn't want to hang out with me anymore? She is a huge velcro bird, afraid of every other animal / human except me. Back when I still had budgies, she always ran away from them or avoided them. But I know there is always the chance that it will change my dynamic with her if she does like the new bird a lot, and I think that's what I'm scared of the most since it's unpredictable
Essentially, I love the idea of having a second cutie in the house, but simultaneously the idea of change and the unknown equations make me super anxious and terrified. After all a bird isn't like a piece of cloth that I can just return, so whatever I choose will be pretty permanent and without knowing how it will go, it's anxiety inducing.
( If you can't tell, yes I have a bit of tism and anxiety
change is scary! )
I'm not sure what the best idea here is. Should I give it a shot and jump into the cold water? Or should I just leave it be and enjoy the nice bond I have with my current bird and leave it at that? How has adding a second cockatiel gone for other people who had a VERY strongly bonded cockatiel before?
Any input is appreciated, thank you!
Added bird tax of the potential new bird below
I currently have a nearly 10 year old female whiteface lutino hen named Nirah. She has been an absolute joy and I adore her to bits. Incredibly tame, cuddly, knows a couple of tricks and overall just has been a wonderful companion these past years. I'm very happy with how things are, and she seems to be happy as well.
But every once in a while, the idea of getting a second cockatiel pops into my mind. I didn't have the capacity to do so in the last years, but as I moved into my own apartment last month, I finally have the space to add a second cockatiel if I wished to do so. I've been looking around and found an absolutely gorgeous cockatiel that I fell in love with and now I'm really thinking about picking it up.
My primary reasons for wanting a second cockatiel are pretty simple. I'd love to have another baby to love on and keep me company, and I started full-time work again 2 years ago, so my tiel is more alone than she used to be and I'd like her to have company as well.
However, there's where my doubts start to creep in.
What if I will be overwhelmed caring for two birds? Especially during the quarantine period, when they are both still in separate cages / different rooms. I don't want either bird to feel like it's not getting enough attention. Once quarantine is over the new bird would move into my room and remain in a completely separate cage for a few more weeks, but once the 'warming up' period is over, it would eventually be transferred into its side of a Madeira Double (the cage has a removable divider which is super useful) Until then I am anxious that it will be difficult for me to keep up with both needs for the birds adequately.
What if my new bird hates the new bird / becomes stressed? Or worse, less tame and doesn't want to hang out with me anymore? She is a huge velcro bird, afraid of every other animal / human except me. Back when I still had budgies, she always ran away from them or avoided them. But I know there is always the chance that it will change my dynamic with her if she does like the new bird a lot, and I think that's what I'm scared of the most since it's unpredictable
Essentially, I love the idea of having a second cutie in the house, but simultaneously the idea of change and the unknown equations make me super anxious and terrified. After all a bird isn't like a piece of cloth that I can just return, so whatever I choose will be pretty permanent and without knowing how it will go, it's anxiety inducing.
( If you can't tell, yes I have a bit of tism and anxiety
change is scary! )I'm not sure what the best idea here is. Should I give it a shot and jump into the cold water? Or should I just leave it be and enjoy the nice bond I have with my current bird and leave it at that? How has adding a second cockatiel gone for other people who had a VERY strongly bonded cockatiel before?
Any input is appreciated, thank you!
Added bird tax of the potential new bird below
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